Why In News?

The Chief Justice of India constituted a high-powered committee to prepare a blueprint for the modernisation of courts across the country.

About High-Powered Committee For Modernisation Of Courts

CJI constituted the "Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee" to transform physical and digital court facilities and build a "unified infrastructural ecosystem" across India.

• Supreme Court Justice Aravind Kumar chairs this high-powered panel.

Core Mandate

• The committee targets seven strategic areas to modernize the justice delivery system.
• Identifies systemic constraints that hinder speedy justice and lead to pendency.
• Improves physical and digital working conditions for litigants, lawyers, judges, administrative staff, and visitors.
• Implements modern technology to accelerate case disposal rates.
• Prioritises the ongoing "e-courts" initiative to bridge the digital divide through citizen-centric services.
• Constructs modern court complexes equipped for 21st-century technological demands.

Why Does India Need Court Modernisation?

Tackle Pendency

Judiciary requires modernisation to clear case backlogs, which currently exceed 5.58 crore across all levels. 

Fix Infrastructural Deficiencies

Courts face a shortage of courtrooms, inadequate staffing, and an overall lack of basic physical facilities for litigants and lawyers.

Bridge the Digital Divide

Modernisation through virtual courts and e-Sewa Kendras overcomes geographical and logistical barriers, making justice accessible and affordable for marginalized populations.

Ensure Environmental Sustainability

Transition to paperless courts and digital filings reduces the judiciary's immense paper consumption and cuts its overall carbon footprint.

Deliver Speedy Justice

Article 21 of the Constitution mandates speedy trials; implementing technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) accelerates case disposal rates and improves administrative efficiency.

Ensure Transparency

Digitising court records and installing the Courtroom Live Audio-visual Streaming System (CLASS) establishes an "open court" ecosystem that enforces public accountability.

What Are The Challenges In Court Modernisation?

Financial Constraints

The Union Budget 2026-27 allocates a mere 0.08% of total funds to the judiciary, forcing State governments to manage the financial burden for court infrastructure.

Three-Tier Digital Divide

The system struggles with an "access divide" (lack of equipment), a "connectivity divide" (about 38% to 45% citizens lack robust internet), and a "skill divide" among users.

Massive Infrastructure Costs

Transitioning to digital ecosystems demands massive capital investments for electronic case files, reliable video conferencing tools, high-speed Wi-Fi, and extensive cloud storage.

Data Security Risks

Storing sensitive judicial records on cloud platforms and utilizing digital evidence raises concerns regarding data privacy, document authentication, and cybersecurity threats.

Resistance and Skill Gaps

Transition faces strong resistance to change from traditional legal practitioners who lack computer literacy and require continuous ICT training to navigate digital platforms.

What Should Be The Way Forward?

Adequate Funding

The newly formed Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee must secure its proposed ₹40,000 to ₹50,000 crore allocation from the government to build a unified infrastructural ecosystem.

Implement e-Courts Phase III

Scale up the e-Courts Phase III initiatives, including expanding Virtual Courts for petty offences, digitising legacy documents, and establishing e-Sewa Kendras across all court complexes.

Integrate Advanced Technologies

Judiciary must deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Blockchain to automate routine scrutiny, predict litigation patterns, translate legal documents into regional languages, and cryptographically secure case records.

Enhance System Interoperability

Stakeholders must completely integrate the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) to ensure seamless, real-time data sharing between courts, police, e-prisons, and forensic labs.

Prioritize Capacity Building

Launch Change Management and ICT Training programs through State Judicial Academies and leverage Common Service Centres (CSCs) to educate lawyers, court staff, and rural citizens.

Conclusion

Integrating modern technology and securing dedicated infrastructure funding will transform Indian judiciary into a seamless, transparent, and fully future-ready justice delivery ecosystem.

Source: NEWSONAIR